Transcript

00:00:00

>> It doesn't look much, but this rock contains the first known example of fossilized dinosaur brain. Using an electron microscope to peer inside, scientists identified the intricate structures.>> And this amazing specimen has preserved the, not only the texture and structure of what are called the meninges, these very tough membranes that surround the actual soft parts of the brain, but the mineralization has also preserved the fine blood vessels running through those textures.

00:00:31

>> The fossil was found 12 years ago on a beach in Southern England. Most likely it's from something like this. The iguanodon was a large herbivorous dinosaur that lived around 133 million years ago. Researchers believe the dinosaur must have died in a bog or swamp.>> And that particular stagnant environment was one that promoted the preservation of the soft tissues.

00:00:55

Because in these stagnant conditions, the sort of acidic nature of the water means that the membranes of the brain itself started to pickle, started to harden.>> Paleontologists say the brain tissue looks familiar. Modern-day descendants of dinosaurs, such as birds and crocodiles, have heads full of something very similar.